Sometimes as women, we might be called by God to do something out of the ordinary. Whether God is calling you to talk about Jesus with a friend, start a website, open a business, or be honest with your boss about the company’s culture, it is important to listen for God’s call. Deborah didn’t wonder, Is it my place as a woman to be doing this? And let’s be clear, times were a lot harder for women then than they are now.
First John 2:17 says,
And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. — ESV
Deborah was not fearful of others not listening to her as a woman or not liking her. She wasn’t concerned about someone thinking she was bossy. She wasn’t worried about outshining her husband (yes, she was married). She wasn’t scared about being different. She was focused on doing the will of God.
It is hard in college, on a date, in your job, and even while raising a family to step up in times of stress, trial, and burdens to choose obedience in God’s will. It is often easier to point to someone else and say, “You got this one.” But that is the beautiful part about God’s story.
He wants women to rise up like Deborah and be a part of His plan.
He wants us to be on His team. We may not be liked, others may not trust us, but when we are obedient and following God’s will, we are purposeful and bold.
Barak put his faith in Deborah. Deborah put her faith in God.
Barak is believed by many to have doubted God and trusted in Deborah instead. That is why he said he would go only if Deborah went with him, because in this moment of battle, he didn’t fully trust God. He didn’t see God before him like Deborah did. Maybe he was just scared of the battle.
I don’t think Barak was the only one to have doubted God in this time, but how Deborah handled him is inspiring. She didn’t say a sassy comment or kick him out for not trusting fully in God. She knew God had chosen Barak to be there, even if he didn’t see God, and he was chosen just as much as she was. But she basically told him, “Hey, you’re going to miss out on something cool like being the one to receive the honor for killing the Canaanite commander, and because you’re a coward, a woman will rise up.”
Deborah didn’t allow Barak’s doubt to be contagious like we all know it can be.
I remember in fifth grade someone told our class Santa wasn’t real. Those of us who still believed in Santa went home and asked our parents if this was true, and each day someone else came back and added more doubt. I’ve also seen this happen on a bigger, adult-sized scale.
All it takes is one person to say they doubt God for you to start doubting God too.
All it takes is one person in college to say you’re missing out on the college experience if you don’t go to this party, participate in this lifestyle, or try these things. All it takes is one boyfriend to say if you don’t do this, you don’t love me. All it takes is one boss or coworker to make you feel like your contributions in the meeting aren’t important. Unfortunately, if I had been in Deborah’s place and Barak had come to me a little scared and said, “I’ll go only if you’ll go because this is an insane idea,” I would’ve possibly backed out and changed my mind. I would’ve wanted Barak to think I was capable and thought all the realistic thoughts through. But Deborah responded that God would do it, and now He’d use a woman.
You’re going to have doubters, haters, people who don’t think you’re capable, and people who don’t think your God is capable. They’ll call you crazy, and they’ll try to convince you to doubt yourself. I mean, Elle Woods had Warner, Taylor Swift was still cheated on, and you have that one girl from high school who still talks bad about you or that guy at work who gives you the stink eye in your meeting. You will have doubters and haters. But what will your response be?
